The task of qualifying for state is a gruelling one, so all athletes have done an amazing job to have the opportunity to compete on the Sydney Olympic Park stage that has hosted international icons like Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson.

Our most seasoned performer on the state stage is Jordan Douglass who will be competing in the Under 17s high jump, triple jump, and long jump. 

An extremely talented athlete, Jordan has been our most successful athlete at state for the past three years, bringing home bronze in the high jump twice over the past three years.

Jordan will be hoping to improve on this performance and enters this year’s event as the second highest state qualifier on 1.58m. 

The top qualifier broke a regional record with a jump of 1.67m. 

Jordan’s best jump is around the 1.68m mark, so she is well qualified to take out top honours at the event.

Juggling the HSC and her athletics has been a hard task, but Jordan is an extremely cool competitor, and we wish her all the best in her endeavours to bring home the gold.

Nipping at Jordan’s heels for the top honours is Zoey Stollery, who is also competing in the Under 17 age group, in the discus event. 

Having pulled out an incredible 35 metres at the recent Parkes carnival, Zoey is hitting her peak at just the right time.

The top qualifier in the event has a distance of 39.91m, however, should Zoey choose to let loose her inner demon, she will make mincemeat of the top qualifier. 

Zoey is a very focused athlete with very precise goals, and there is nothing she enjoys more than to surprise her competition with her strength. 

Don’t be surprised if Zoey brings home a very shiny medal over the weekend!

Also competing in their first state championships are Archie Dowling and Lachlan Mitchell. 

Archie will be competing in the Under 9s 400m event, and Lachie in the Under 14s 3000m event.

Archie has had very little competition in the 400m up to this point so the talented opposition and the synthetic track will bring out the very best in him and we expect that he (and his beaming smile) will make it into the finals with a massive personal best.

Lachie is competing in one of the most gruelling events of the championships – the 3000m event. 

He will be up against some of the most talented cross country and long distance runners in the state and will most definitely slice a very bit chunk off his personal best in the process. (And no doubt establish a nice centre record in the meantime).

Young and District Little Athletics wish our four athletes the very best of luck at the championships. You are all amazingly talented to make it this far!

Personal bests from competition on March 12 are:

Donges Supa IGA U6s: Leo Fisher (300m, 50m, LJ, shot); Hayley Gruber (300m, shot, 700m); Sam Vernon (300m, 50m, LJ); Cameron Heidtmann (50m, LJ); Lana Blizzard (50m, LJ); Tahlia Vernon (LJ, shot); Skye McLelland (300m, shot); Felicity Morris (LJ).

Framaglass U7s: Billy Lamb (100m, 70m, LJ); Dan Shannon (100m, 70m, LJ); Jorjah Griffiths (100m, LJ); Dillon Strong (70m, LJ); Jonah Kentwell (100m, 70m); Nicholas Heidtmann (100m, 70m); Joshua Cameron (100m, 70m); Ariella O’Donnell (100m, LJ); Sophie Pollock (LJ); Olivia Crawford (100m); Riley Burgess (100m); Hayden Richens (70m).

SWSCU U8s: Kayla Gruber (100m, shot, 700m); Isabella Grainger (100m, 70m, shot); David Morris (shot, 700m); Bella Brownlie (70m); Seanna New (shot); Hayley Café (700m); Jessica Taylor (shot); Sophie Grainger (shot); Tim Butcher (shot).

Enviroganic Farm U9s: Justin Newham (discus, HJ); Talia Arthur (discus); Mackenzie Fliedner (HJ).

MA Steel U10s: Abbey Debusch (100m, discus, LJ); Kai Langfield (100m, discus); Rhys Lacey (100m, discus); Macklay Brownlie (800m); Brodie Patterson (discus); Mackenzie Strong (LJ); Thomas New (LJ).

JOB Constructions U11s: Jordon Foster (100m, discus, LJ); Anna Dowling (800m, discus); Jordon Wells (100m, discus); Azaria Arthur (100m); Chloe Gruber (discus).

LPC Trading U12s: Elias Smithers (200m, javelin); Mathew Café (200m, javelin); Ryan Lacey (javelin, TJ); Tahlia Gruber (200m).

Blantyre Farm U13s: Jackson Douglass (200m).

Wambanumba Free Range U14-U17s: Jordan Douglass (javelin, LJ); Jonte Langfield (400m, javelin); Maddison Douglass (200m); Asher Crowden (200m); Joshua Café (200m); Ashleigh Bennett (LJ).